|
|
According to Dr. Jerome Engel, a number of men and women who have attained religious prominence may have done so in spite of, or perhaps due to, their epileptic signs and symptoms. In fact epilepsy, as "the sacred disease," has been profoundly intertwined with religious practices throughout the ages and the world.
Saint Paul's seizure-like experiences are the best documented of the major religious figures. On the road to Damascus he saw a bright light flashing around him, fell to the ground and was left temporarily blinded by his vision and unable to eat or drink. Paul is thought by some physicians to have had facial motor and sensitive disturbances coming after ecstatic seizures; they have diagnosed him with temporal lobe epilepsy which occasionally developed into secondary tonic-clonic attacks.
Joan of Arc was an uneducated farmer's daughter in a remote village of medieval France who altered the course of history through her amazing military victories. From age thirteen Joan reported ecstatic moments in which she saw flashes of light coming from the side, heard voices of saints and saw visions of angels.
In the opinion of the neurologist Dr. Lydia Bayne, Joan's blissful experiences "in which she felt that the secrets of the universe were about to be revealed to her"- were seizures, and they were triggered by the ringing of church bells. Joan displayed symptoms of a temporal lobe focus epilepsy: specifically, a musicogenic form of reflex epilepsy with an ecstatic aura. Musicogenic epilepsy is generally triggered by particular music which has an emotional significance to the individual. Joan's voices and visions propelled her to become an heroic soldier in the effort to save France from English domination and led to her martyrdom in 1431, burned at the stake as a heretic when she was 19 years old.
Soren Kierkegaard, the brilliant Danish philosopher and religious thinker considered to be the father of existentialism, worked hard at keeping his epilepsy secret.
Adapted with permission from Epilepsy Toronto
Topic Editor: Steven C. Schachter, M.D.
Last Reviewed:12/15/06
Continue on to Painters with epilepsy.
Welcome to the Wiki. This space is created for epilepsy.com members to share their own experiences and expertise to help refine and expand the discussion around important topics.
No members have yet contributed to this topic. If you are not yet an epilepsy.com member, register today to get started on this Wiki topic and the many other advantages of being a member. If you are a member and wish to be the first to edit this Wiki topic, please make sure to login, then click on the orange "Start Wiki" button at the top of this page. Or, learn more about Wikis.
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| I Have Epilepsy and I Hate My Life... | Jun 20, 2009 | |
| 1nevermore | ||
| Epilepsy triggers? | Apr 4, 2009 | |
| Black.Pearl | ||
| The Reasons not to consume alcohol or smoke marijuana if you have epilepsy | Jun 8, 2009 | |
| LaurenG1211 | ||
| Do seizures change characteristics over time? | Apr 15, 2009 | |
| Amazon | ||
| Epilepsy/Meds are Ruining my LIFE!!!! | May 28, 2009 | |
| GottaJibboo55 | ||
| Working on laptops, computers and E | May 21, 2009 | |
| Amazon | ||
| new here and i have some questions regarding my seizures | May 5, 2009 | |
| skyetastic | ||
| Food-Triggered Siezures | Apr 17, 2009 | |
| uberzwitter | ||
| Seizure disorder and epilepsy, what is the difference? | Mar 26, 2009 | |
| srchtt3 | ||
| Normal EEG but continuing seizures | May 7, 2009 | |
| Amazon | ||
| View all Forums | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| My son has BRE and also has jerking and twitching day and night | Jul 4, 2009 | |
| rodandgeneve | ||
| I'm Afraid My Current Seizure Problems Could Cost My Me My Marriage | Jul 4, 2009 | |
| grazianina | ||
| newbie questions | Jul 4, 2009 | |
| mcamp2006 | ||
| They want to drill a hole in my head. Should we have a look? | Jul 4, 2009 | |
| phidippus | ||
| After surgery difficulties with my work at a State agency; now at risk of losing my job, insurance and my retirement benefits | Jul 4, 2009 | |
| Nylrad | ||
| new here and i have some questions regarding my seizures | Jul 4, 2009 | |
| skyetastic | ||
| daughter just recently diagnosed with E | Jul 3, 2009 | |
| uhwheresmycoffee | ||
| Lamictal and tremors | Jul 3, 2009 | |
| Gina Marie | ||
| I don't think i reacted well.... what should i have done | Jul 3, 2009 | |
| NikiPacker | ||
| Does anyone know? Can seizure medicines make someone exhibit signs on paranoid scitzophrenia accompanied by short term memory | Jul 3, 2009 | |
| Desperado | ||
| View all Forums | ||
| Title | Page Views | |
|---|---|---|
| my.epilepsy.com Updates | 20,400 | |
| epi_help | ||
| topamax and weight loss | 18,924 | |
| alexia mom | ||
| kepra | 18,778 | |
| brian mattingly | ||
| Possible cure for absence seizures | 15,622 | |
| pdl1 | ||
| Epilepsy and marijuana | 14,881 | |
| cjad234 | ||
| Sexual Side Effects | 12,892 | |
| George R | ||
| How exactly do aura's feel | 12,636 | |
| WendyBendy | ||
| MEDICAL ALERT I.D.'s | 11,259 | |
| picnupthepcs | ||
| Over 40 Different Types Of Seizures - Revised | 9,928 | |
| spiz | ||
| electrical shock in head? | 9,372 | |
| Maggie | ||
| View all Forums | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| This is an Epilepsy Chatroom!!!!! | Jun 14, 2009 | |
| Sugerfree | ||
| AS THE DRUG COMPANY TURNS - THE SOAP OPERA | Apr 14, 2009 | |
| banffgirl | ||
| A list of drugs and what they mean to you as far as epilepsy is concerned. | May 4, 2009 | |
| renzokata | ||
| Ohhhhh Baby! | May 13, 2009 | |
| 1sassyhelper | ||
| Epilepsy in gastric bypass patients | Jun 4, 2009 | |
| Audrey Pavia | ||
| I can't even put it into words | Apr 2, 2009 | |
| Shenoah | ||
| New Addition | Apr 23, 2009 | |
| crashllama | ||
| Laurens nightmare. | May 28, 2009 | |
| tchaide05 | ||
| Diabetes and Epilepsy | Apr 19, 2009 | |
| Sugerfree | ||
| Thank you and goodbye :) | May 17, 2009 | |
| confuzzed | ||
| View all Blogs | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Neurologist Hunting | Jul 4, 2009 | |
| Gina Marie | ||
| I'm back. ( : Does anyone know anything about nicotine patches and epilepsy? | Jul 4, 2009 | |
| Living with Epilepsy as a Teen | ||
| Summer! | Jul 4, 2009 | |
| Living with Epilepsy as a Teen | ||
| please answer :) | Jul 4, 2009 | |
| brittanyanngr | ||
| Seizures and Epilepsy Traumatic Braun Injury Pakistani Patient Jawad Pasha 26 A Persistent vegetative state | Jul 4, 2009 | |
| Anwer Pasha | ||
| support worker people with learning disability | Jul 4, 2009 | |
| bhing | ||
| Depakine Chrono (natrium valproate) side-effects | Jul 3, 2009 | |
| Ashvura | ||
| Rasmus' walk-off lifts Cards over Giants | Jul 2, 2009 | |
| linhanyi | ||
| nice site | Jul 2, 2009 | |
| lee | ||
| my son sheldon | Jul 2, 2009 | |
| gvalegirl | ||
| View all Blogs | ||
| Title | Page Views | |
|---|---|---|
| Inspirational Quote - My Own Personal Inner Thoughts | 7,951 | |
| Butterflygrl | ||
| my partial complex seizures | 3,842 | |
| Zanna1211 | ||
| Topomax... The Dreaded......... | 3,628 | |
| Dr Jason | ||
| Brain Zaps, tics & twitches | 3,448 | |
| JudiS | ||
| side effects of phenobarb. | 3,013 | |
| pksmom | ||
| Feeling Sick | 2,837 | |
| JBJ1984 | ||
| How can you tell if a sleep seizure happens? | 2,806 | |
| epl_controller | ||
| Tegretol XR and ANXIETY meds | 2,777 | |
| Butterflygrl | ||
| TYLENOL, AEDs & SEIZURES | 2,636 | |
| cmscribbles | ||
| Nonepileptic "Events" vs. "Seizures" | 2,555 | |
| teft | ||
| View all Blogs | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Married With or To Epilepsy in TN | Jan 26, 2009 | |
| timangela | ||
| View all Groups | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Lesional Epilepsy Surgery | Jun 22, 2009 | |
| Chi-gal | ||
| Lamotrigine memory loss | Jun 17, 2009 | |
| superfurry | ||
| Pregnant on Topmax | Jun 16, 2009 | |
| sarah123 | ||
| why don,t they understand, I,m a person too | Jun 3, 2009 | |
| Angela71 | ||
| Living a full life with Epilepsy | May 29, 2009 | |
| Amazon | ||
| teenager driving | May 27, 2009 | |
| babygirl416 | ||
| Epilepsy Surgery Group | May 10, 2009 | |
| lisam11463 | ||
| Dilantin to Lamotrigine & Pregnant | May 7, 2009 | |
| apereira728 | ||
| What is going on here? | May 5, 2009 | |
| jyhprice | ||
| Parent of child with cerebral palsy and epilepsy. | May 2, 2009 | |
| bunglemc | ||
| View all Groups | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| The Day My World Shook | Apr 1, 2009 | |
| JoyfulGirl | ||
| 36 years epilepsy and seizure free so far after op. | Jun 11, 2009 | |
| karl34 | ||
| Just to let off some steam. | May 3, 2009 | |
| Adz | ||
| giving humans another try ;) | Jun 10, 2009 | |
| bookworm03 | ||
| My daughter' story | Mar 26, 2009 | |
| Latrice | ||
| JOB SEACH | Mar 26, 2009 | |
| inkey | ||
| About Me ... | Mar 28, 2009 | |
| demonkissangel69 | ||
| This is my story of epilepsy | Mar 28, 2009 | |
| hannah_s89 | ||
| Spark of Hope-Living with epilepsy | Apr 1, 2009 | |
| tracey westaway | ||
| sandy87 | Apr 13, 2009 | |
| sandy87 | ||
| View all Stories | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Epilepsy does not control my life | Jul 2, 2009 | |
| sweettmaidenn | ||
| Police Officer Discharged Regarding Seizures | Jul 2, 2009 | |
| scott west coast | ||
| JAN 26,2006 CHANGED MY LIFE FOR GOOD | Jul 2, 2009 | |
| kimberly1975 | ||
| Concerned Bystander | Jul 1, 2009 | |
| Bystander | ||
| temporal lobe epilepsy | Jul 1, 2009 | |
| dennyxx82 | ||
| Epilepsy is now part of my life | Jun 30, 2009 | |
| Running Free | ||
| MY NEW LIFE WITH EPILEPSY! | Jun 29, 2009 | |
| unicorn26 | ||
| Track Day | Jun 28, 2009 | |
| danniegirl | ||
| My son's seizures | Jun 27, 2009 | |
| Magali | ||
| Who Knows? | Jun 25, 2009 | |
| Sheri Lopez | ||
| View all Stories | ||
| Title | Page Views | |
|---|---|---|
| Jessica Roiz | 2,238 | |
| kroiz | ||
| Seizure Cat helps unfold my seizure life! | 591 | |
| wenko | ||
| my story | 455 | |
| snoby | ||
| Always Have On Clean Underwear | 427 | |
| crashllama | ||
| Kelly's Life With Epilepsy | 400 | |
| kjcanada1979 | ||
| my brain has died a thousand deaths........... | 382 | |
| banffgirl | ||
| What My Seizures Are Like...... | 363 | |
| javaman | ||
| Nocturnal grand mal seizures (primary generalized epilepsy) | 324 | |
| karalyeva | ||
| Crystal's story | 320 | |
| Crystal11 | ||
| Life......... | 319 | |
| dizzygal | ||
| View all Stories | ||
